She blinks several times, trying to get her bearings as her eyes adjust to the light streaming into the room from the ocean view sliding door. It takes a few seconds for her to register that she is completely naked, as is the man lying beside her. The events from the previous day flood her mind, and she leaps out of bed, running in the direction of the bathroom.
Her heart is pounding as she paces the length of the bathroom, grabbing the hotel bathrobe from its hook on the door and wrapping it around her naked form. Her mind is racing with thoughts of regret, of betrayal, and of fear as she sits on top of the closed toilet and covers her face in her hands.
"Anna?" she hears his voice question just outside the door, "Are you okay? Can I come in?"
She hears the worry in his tone and it relaxes her slightly, "Yeah," she responds. He opens the door and she is relieved that he's put his boxers back on, a least lessening the awkwardness of this moment slightly.
"Are you sick?" he asks, "What's the matter?"
"I'm fine, really," she insists, though half-heartedly.
He kneels in front of her, holding her hands in his, "I don't buy it. Tell me what you're thinking."
She sighs, pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts, "I don't know. I feel confused. I mean last night was…unexpected. And I don't want to hurt you. And I don't want you to hurt me. And I just don't know what I feel anymore."
"Do you feel anything for me?" he questions, "Because last night was something special to me. It was more than just sex. I think I'm falling for you."
She doesn't say anything for a long while; only glancing at him briefly before standing and walking back into the hotel room and out onto the balcony. He follows her quietly, waiting for her to speak.
"Don't you get it?" she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper, "You're a risk. You're a huge risk. A risk that I'm not sure I'm willing to take."
"Gee, thanks," he replies, the hurt evident in his voice.
"No, just hear me out," she pleads, "It's like you and I meet, and I watch you flirt with everyone and turn on the charm. And you woo Camp and you're with her broadcasting your love to the world. You're always so careful. Careful not to upset her, and careful only to say and do what you think makes her happy. Would you still give my kissing skills a 5 out of 10, Skylar? Do Camp and I really tie in our singing abilities? Do you just see me as 'professional' or were you too afraid to speak the truth? Because with me, you get what you get. I don't sugar coat, or pander, or try to act like I'm something I'm not. I don't want a guy who just wants to please me and never has an opinion or feelings of his own. I want a partner, not a puppet. And I don't want to always be afraid that one day you'll get bored and find someone better."
"What if there is no one better?" he asks.
"No, don't do that," she insists firmly, "You're doing it again. Cut the prince charming bullshit, and just be you."
"I don't know either," he answers, "You're a risk for me too. You're way out of my league. I guess on some level I'm always trying to impress you or make myself seem worthy of you. I did all that stuff for Camp because it's what she needed me to do, and I would try and give you what you needed too. That's the kind of man I am. I can be discreet, or charming, or supportive, or whatever it is you want and I'll still be me."
"Being with me isn't easy," she whispers. When he doesn't respond immediately she continues, "My schedule is crazy. I'm hardly ever home. I only managed to see Edgar or Ben once a month if I was lucky. I don't know what I want long term or if I'll even be able to get it. I'm just a mess, Skylar. I'm sarcastic, and private, and fairly introverted. You'll get bored, I can almost guarantee it."
He sighs and stares into her eyes, deep in thought. He gently places his hands on either side of her face, stroking her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. "I don't think I'll ever get bored of this," he whispers before lowering his lips to hers, kissing her passionately as his arms wrap around her waist.
She responds immediately, allowing him to lift her and wrapping her legs around his waist. He moans into the kiss, and she can immediately feel his growing arousal. "Anna," he breathes as his lips descend to her neck and she pulls away, unfolding her legs and dropping to the floor.
"You're a 10, no, you're way above the scale," he murmurs as he tries to pull her close again, but she holds him at arms' length.
"I hate that she has the same name," she states, "Anna," she adds. "At least you can never get confused and scream out the wrong name," she quips, trying to make light of the situation.
"Believe me, the only thing you have in common is your name," he explains. "I never felt this with her, this electricity between us. Can you feel it?"
"Yes," she admits, allowing him to pull her close again. He kisses her again before she pulls away for the second time and rummages through her purse, looking for her cell phone. "Hold that thought, I need to take care of something," she says, gesturing to the phone before stepping onto the balcony and sliding the door closed behind her. He sits down, his arousal uncomfortable as he watches her have what appears to be a very uncomfortable conversation. After several minutes have passed, she opens the door and steps back into the room. "Ben," she says tapping the phone before tossing it onto the bed.
"I'm sorry," he begins, but she holds up her hand to stop him.
"He knew it was coming," she sighs, "That's how horrible I've been lately. I was afraid to lose him if this didn't work out," she gestures between them, "But breaking up with him when this all started would've been the right thing to do."
"Well I should've ended things with Camp after the first time we kissed," he tells her, "And I was too chicken. Hell, I should've pursued you from the beginning and not taken no for an answer," he adds, smiling at her.
She laughs weakly, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "No offense," she teases, "But I wouldn't have gone for you then."
"Beg your pardon?" he quips back, holding his hands over his heart in mock-horror.
"Yeah, definitely," she continues, "I'd have given your boyfriend material rating a 5 out of 10, maybe even lower."
"Oh really?' he replies, raising his eyebrows at her, "And what about my kissing prowess?"
She laughs out loud at this, "Hmm, I'd give you a 4 out of 10."
"Only a four?" he exclaims.
"Well back then you were clearly nervous around me," she says, trying to keep a straight face at his sullen expression.
"And what makes you think I'm not still?" he whispers, pulling her up from the bed and flush against his body. He kisses her hard, his tongue delving into her mouth forcefully as he deepens the kiss. He feels her relax against him and he pushes her back towards the bed, covering her body with his. "Do you still think I'm a four?" he asks as his lips kiss down her chest, pulling the robe open as he descends her body.
"Maybe a seven," she manages between kisses, her eyes sparkling in amusement as he pauses in his ministrations to look at her.
He grinds his arousal into her, eliciting a moan from her before he lowers her lips to hers again, kissing her with all the pent up passion he's felt for her since they met. "Still?" he questions, his lips ghosting against the shell of her ear.
"Ten, definitely a ten," she finally admits before pushing him on his back and straddling his hips, her robe falling open and revealing her creamy, pale skin and full breasts. He licks his lips as he stares up at her hungrily, his eyes raking over her body. She lifts her hips as she slides the robe off her shoulders and throws it aside while he shimmies out of his boxers. She lowers herself onto him and they both gasp in pleasure as she begins to move, his hips meeting hers thrust for thrust. She's reaching her peak just as her cell phone begins ringing loudly on the bed, soon followed by the vibrating sound of his phone going off across the room. They ignore the first calls, coming together loudly as their phones start ringing in unison for a second time. Anna collapses on top of Skylar, breathing heavily as she rummages in the bedding for her phone.
"Hello?" she answers breathlessly, her brow furrowing as she listens to the caller. Skylar gets out of bed and pulls his phone out of the pocket of his discarded clothes, also answering the call. They glance at each other as they take in what's being said to them, and she goes into the bathroom as to not interfere with his call. As soon as she hangs up her phone starts ringing again, and she shuts it off and tosses it back onto the bed, reaching again for the robe to cover herself. He slips back into bed and immediately his phone starts to vibrate, so he too shuts it down. They look at each other expectantly.
"So I guess you just heard what I just heard?" she asks.
"That someone took a photo of us kissing on the hotel balcony just now and it's all over the internet?" he asks and she nods. "Then, yes."
"So much for being private and discreet," she shakes her head, "So who told you?"
"Well I first got a yelling voicemail from Camp in which she basically called me a man-whore, and the call I answered just now was my manager," he replies. "You?"
"My manager," she answers, "And then texts from my mom, Aubrey, and Ben Platt. Aubrey Plaza," she adds, clarifying. I hate that Camp's character has the same name as my best friend. It's like I can't get away from her."
Skylar combs his fingers through her curls, "It's going to be okay," he reassures her, "So it's out that we are together. What's so bad about that?"
"Um, because we just ended relationships like two minutes ago and it makes us look like irresponsible sex-a-holics? Sure, nothing wrong with that," she says sarcastically.
"Yeah but it's no one's business but ours," he clarifies.
"Tell that to the rest of the world," she shakes her head. "I don't like this, but there's no going back now."
He stares into her clear blue eyes, lightly twisting a curl of her hair around his finger as he pecks her lips, "Definitely no going back," he says softly before pulling her into his arms once more.
A/N: Yes, I am well aware of the recent news involving Castin/Clipstein, but in my brain, they do not exist. I get a lot of flak for writing these stories, but to me Kendrick is the right Anna, always and forever.